Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1887-02-25
and without this figuring, | should


oprove that | actually believe
this country is well adapted to
fruit, 1 will state that l have about
concluded negotiations for SO
acres of land, to plant II, 900 ORCH
ard trees on, this coming spring.
In eight years from now it would
be of tae same age as my present
orchard WAS last spring. ltis fair
to estimate that | will plant u
much less proportion of unproduc-
tive varieties, and that can take
better care of the new orchard.
Last year was not very favorable
for fruit, and quite an average,
and therefore hardly safe to base
calculations on. Ii [ had $500
bushels of apples then, as l be-
lieve | did, L should have over
$4,000 the ninth year in the new
orchard. Call it 10000, and that
l can make them worth only 20
the land and trees. l ought to
make enough on the land
outside until that time, to
cents on the average, and they will
amount to $1,000, more than
enough to pay the original cost of
pay a low rate of interest and taxes
and [ stand good chance to get a
couple of small crops before that
worth several hundred dollars
each. The trees could readily be
valued at 81, each-I would not
take that for them if l had them
now. But considering that I would
expect to cut down three fourths
of them in five or SIX years more,
you may call them seventy-fve
cents, or even fifty cents, and they
would amount to $4,000 or 5000,
besides the value of the land.
1t may be claimed that l could
not base my calculations on any
other orchard in the country, and
make as favorable showing. And
| might answer that no other orch
ard has had as good continuous
care and cultivation. But allow
me to count only the same varie-
ties OF trees, and where there has
been even staggering attempt
at reasonable care and cultivation,
L firmly believe that my figures
will be approximately sustained.
1t would be rather notifying to
find, as [ have found in some 9TH
er cases, that others could do near
ly as well by loss than half the
labor or care, and [ don't believe
it will pan out so; nevertheless
there is judgement and caution
needed to only apply labor so as to
secure the most profitable re-
suits.
There was eighty acres of ten or
twelve years orchardin three miles
Of Macon, sold under bankrupt
proceedings, several years ago, for
$1,000. Green Bros, claimed to
have realized their purchase
money out of the first few crops,
but since then it has failed to
yield satisfactorily. The reason
OF this should have been conspicu-
Gus to the most superficial COM
mon sense. As far as the color of
the leaves was discernable it was
plain that the trees were making
no fresh growth in early summer,
and it required no prophesy what
ever to predict present results. A
large majority of our orchards are
III the same condition to-day, and
their owners are ready to unite
their sentiments, that orchards
don't pay much in this country.
All the severe test winters we
have had; all the blights fungus
and borers that ever afflicted our
trees; all the canker worms, cod
ling moths, curcuIios, etc, that
prey on the trees and fruit; all
these and other discouragements
put together have never put half
the blighting influence against the
interests Of fruit growing, that
neglect, inattention, carelessness
and want of study and observation
have. Look at Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Arkansas, and South Mis-
soury, all admittedly more favor
able than this, yet that deaden-
ing influence puts fruit growing,
down as too small, peddling busi-
ness, and allows an occasional sur
plus to rot ON the ground, while
their own towns would pay 81 a
bushel for it.
[ propose to stem this abomina-
BILE tide, and about all [ can do my
self is to guide it around my
place, and | have to keep very
determined and obstinate guard to
do that. Everything I do will
look entirely wrong to somebody,
and contrary to their short-sight-
ed experience. And it would be
very strange if l did not commit
some blunders. If | should sue
ceed | may get credit for uncom-
mon skill and perseverance, un-
attainable by common people, and
magnifying the labor and care
necessary, thus making my sue